#8

 it seems ages since I posted (again!)

but that doesn't mean

I haven't been creative

its been a busy week

with lots of friends and family

visiting from near and far

which has been lovely

but apart from entertaining

I have been doing the

Paperlove ecourse

by Rachel Hazell

http://www.rachelhazell.com/

its been fun, interesting,

thought provoking

and instructive

so far we have just completed

week 3

some of the things

made are books, boxes

collages, decorated tape

 and written a haiku.

here are a few of them

I'm still knitting and crocheting

of course

but its great doing

something different and new

I'm currently reading

the miniaturist

by jessie burton

I've been unsure about it

but am halfway through so

may as well finish it now

and listening to

life in a paper boat

by kate rusby

(hence the decoration on the box)

#7

feels like I haven't posted

anything for ages

but

that doesn't mean I haven't been busy

the needles and hooks

have been

firing off sparks!!!

make number seven

is a christmas make

for my brother

alice gave me this pattern

for my birthday,

she bought it at York minster

goswald of graveney st George

it was quite straightforward

but lots of fiddly bits,

if I can find my felt

he may get some toenails

the pattern is available here

http://www.theoldtoyknittingshop.co.uk/

am listening to

the new kate rusby album

life in a paper boat

and the audiobook

night waking

by

sarah moss

# 6

number six

is a pair of gloves

for my cousin Steph

they were made in

crocodile or dragon's scales stitch

from this pattern

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/58831283/crochet-pattern-dragon-gloves-crocodile?ref=shop_home_active_10

using Drops delight 4 ply wool

they look fabulous on!

at the moment I am reading

the lightning tree by emily woof

(a birthday pressie from jane and full of places I know)

# 5

number five

is another baby knit

a lovely little coat

knitted in chunky wool

from this pattern

http://www.loveknitting.com/baby-toddler-tiered-coat-and-jacket-knitting-pattern-by-lisa-chemery

quick and easy

and very very cute

# 4

number 4

is a little birdhouse

given to me as 

a birthday pressie 

decorated to make a home for

fabien and mimi

# 3

a friend's stepdaughter is

having a baby girl,

so a great excuse to make some

cute tiny things

make number three

I used

rico baby so soft dk wool

I saw the blanket pattern

a while back

and hoped I would get

an opportunity to crochet it

http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/call-the-midwife-inspired-baby-blanket-free-pattern/

the little jacket

is from this pattern

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/french-fashion-jacket

I could make baby stuff all day long!

# 2

a neighbour is having a special birthday,

so I made her a little lavender filled heart

to go with her card

it was made from this pattern

http://chuculetaconraton.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/mi-pequeo-jardin-bolsa-para-la-nena-y.html

the lavender was a gift from Alice

from her trip to Norfolk this summer

the card I sent was from the

wonderful Kim Tillyer - Witchmountain

check out her Etsy shop

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KimTillyer?ref=search_shop_redirect

she is a great advocate of

the "just a card" campaign

which promotes purchases from

independent artists,

when even just buying a card

can help them keep their business running

am currently reading

common ground by rob cowen

+

listening to

theyesandeye by lou rhodes

# 1

number one

for christmas last year

my brother bought me

some craft sets

one was

a pyrography kit



it is like a soldering iron
which you attach
different nibs to
and when heated up
you burn drawings, patterns  and writing
into wood



I started by making
some pictures
on some of the logs for my fire

it isn't as easy as it looks,

getting the right nib

and learning how to

use the iron

will take time,

but I am happy with the

results of my first efforts

its a new craft

that I think I am going

to enjoy

a new year, a new challenge

today is the first of September,

my birthday month

after a spell of poorliness

and not much making going on this year,

I have decided to start afresh

and as I will be fifty two

on my birthday

I am going to follow on from

http://hendra100makes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/happy-new-year.html

and spend my birth year

making fifty two things

which should work out as one per week

I will also be posting about

random things and

rambling thoughts

I hope you will enjoy it